It's getting hot, hot, hot

July 2023 seems to have been a hot summer in many countries, particularly in several parts of the US. Furthermore, in the UK, the sales of Gladioli went through the roof, and Garden Center sales soared, but the heat was still on with inflation, water, and trade concerns. Also this month, Surfinia celebrated selling its 1.500.000.000th plant in Europe only, Magical Hydrangeas celebrated its 10th anniversary, Keelings opened its €20m flower facility in Dublin, Biobest completed the acquisition of BioWorks, and HC Companies to be acquired by Platinum Equity. And Cultivate'23 took place and we published the photo report.

Of course, more happened, and more interesting stories were shared; below an overview:

Keeping 200 acres of greenhouses warm in the winter months

How does Metrolina Greenhouses keep 200 acres of greenhouses warm in the winter months? Director of Operations Mark Lykins explains the whole process…

"Magical Hydrangea conquers hearts of European consumers"

Ten years ago, the first Magical Hydrangeas were launched on the European garden plant market, and this should, of course, be celebrated. By now,…

"Our aim is to help drive Kenya's flower industry forward and expand its global market share"

Ball has been active in the Kenyan market for over a decade, and in 2021, they established Ball Floriculture with the strategic goal of enhancing its…

Ireland: Keelings opens €20m flower facility in Dublin

Keelings, the Dublin-based fruit, vegetable, and horticulture group, has opened a new flower processing facility in north Dublin, which it says will…

Coloring Europe with 1.5 billion Surfinia

In the late 1980s, MNP / Suntory had a vision. To bring to market a plant with strong colors, flowering power, and garden performance for consumers.…

"Getting away from the mainstream products, finding a more profitable niche"

"Breed from a grower point of view" is Hartwig Bull's slogan. In 2009, he took over his father's business with his wife Ultrike, and in 2015, they…

Oriental Group invests in the future

During the Covid years, sales of flowers, plants, and anything related were sky-high. Meeting the demand became a challenge, in a positive way of…

Improving predictability with technology

A drone that forecasts the rose production? Yes, with drones and machine learning, Kenyan start-up Lima Labs takes the guesswork out of farming. "We…

UK: Gladioli tidings with booming sales of bargain blooms

Britain's gladioli growers are bracing themselves for record demand this summer as increasing numbers of shoppers look for bargain blooms during the…

Biobest completes acquisition of BioWorks

Biobest has completed the acquisition of BioWorks. "Biopesticide solutions are a global strategic priority for us, and BioWorks has a strong range of…

"Increasing demand for mixed bouquets enables us to grow more"

They built their first greenhouse in 1995, started with 6 employees and alstroemeria only, and now, more than 365 people are working there, producing…

HC Companies to be acquired by Platinum Equity

Platinum Equity is set to acquire the HC Companies. Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the next several weeks…

"Year after year of consumer satisfaction creates brand loyalty"

Introduced in 2005, SunPatiens of Sakata has enjoyed annual double-digit sales growth. "Their success in the marketplace is directly linked to their…

UK: Garden center sales soar, but the heat is still on with inflation, water, and trade concerns

As June 2023 made history as the hottest June ever recorded, with unprecedented temperatures and a mix of heatwaves and heavy rainfall, garden centers…

Starting underground water storage: "Storing immediately during the rainy season is the best"

More and more growers are looking at their water supply. Good water can no longer be taken for granted. "The same applies to water as to CO2. That is…

Photo report: Cultivate'23

It's summertime at FlroalDaily, but before we take our annual break, we want to share the Cultivate'23 photo report with you. The event and trade show took place earlier this…

"If there is a plant you are looking for, we can find it and ship it directly to your doorstep"

Specializing in unique and interesting starter material, Fleurizon prides itself on not only its diversity but also its beautiful material. And at…